Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN, has called for the removal of unilateral coercive measures negatively affecting countries’ socio-economic development and people’s life, and the restraint of unilateral coercive actions in international relations.

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy addresses the event (Photo: VNA)

Addressing the UN Security Council’s Arria-Formula Meeting on “End Unilateral Coercive Measures Now” on November 25, Quy called on the international community to join hands in responding to challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

He criticised actions which run counter to the UN Charter and the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States, particularly unilateral coercive measures.

These actions have eroded mutual trust, intensified tensions, and posed latent risks of conflicts, he noted, stressing the need to promote multilateralism and dialogue, abide by the UN Charter and international law, solve conflicts peacefully, and respect each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.

The UNSC should prevent and solve disputes, protect civilians, and ensure its sanctions do not cause humanitarian burden on people, he added.

Alena Douhan, UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, emphasised the necessity to consider the legality of unilateral coercive measures which are not allowed or exceed the UNSC’s allowance, and assess their impact on the enjoyment of human rights.

The trading of basic necessities such as medicine, medical equipment and food should not be subject to any coercive measures or unilateral coercive measures, either directly or indirectly, she said.

Activities which hamper COVID-19 prevention efforts should be removed or at least suspended, she added.